Short cuts and other tips Vista Tips Discuss Short cuts and other tips in the Windows Vista forums; Originally Posted by Davehc Ok. I am not about to disagree - just making a point. I find one click on Help and Support and typing in what I am looking ...

[Galt]

Originally Posted by Davehc

Ok. I am not about to disagree - just making a point. I find one click on Help and Support and typing in what I am looking for, displays all the info (and indexing I need. I do not normall need to redefine it, whatever that means. I am not quite clear as to where you are going but I do not get that clicking onto this forum, waiting (brief) for it to open, entering your name and password, another small wait, clicking on whatever you are proposing, and then onto a keyword, can possibly be quicker.

I don't disagree that the Support and Help files are decent. What I meant by re-defining, was cuttng out the useless verbage, and offering any additional insights that help files don't always offer.

As far as logging on, since I've registered, and get direct email to any thread I've subscribed to, I just click my email link, and I'm logged in automatically, taken to the thread, and since I set my profile options to (Linear -New Posts First) one click from email and I'm here reading the reply. The reply also comes in email, so if it's not something I need/want to respond to, I just delete it.

[felix8406]

Ok guys, since I’m the moderator of this thread, I would like to steer the thread back to what it was intended. Let’s all agree to disagree and leave it there.

By the way, now the new an improve IE7 is out, would be a good time to share some tips and tricks. Maybe even have a dedicated thread just IE.

[felix8406]

The date many of us are waiting for is fast approaching. Now is the perfect time to get you system ready. Here are some suggestions:

Evaluate your PC by running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This utility will check your PC and will make available a summary of the Vista versions the PC is capable of running. However, keep in mind that the advisor only tells you whether or not your PC can run Vista, not which requirements it doesn't meet.

Make sure you have a processor capable of handling Vista. A Vista “capable” PC needs a CPU of at least 800 MHz, while a Vista “ready” PC requires a CPU of at least 1 GHz.

Make sure you have enough RAM to get the full benefits of Vista. A Vista “capable” PC requires at least 512 MB of RAM, while a Vista “ready” PC requires a minimum of 1 GB of RAM.

Do you want to take advantage of the new 3-D Aero Glass? Make sure your graphics adapter is DirectX 9 capable. Also check for compatibility for Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). A Vista “capable” PC requires a graphic card that has at least 64 MB of video RAM, while a Vista “ready” PC requires and adapter with a minimum of 128 MB of video RAM.

Make sure your hard drive have ample amount of space. To install Vista, you need a 40GB hard disk with a minimum of 15 GB of free space.

Vista will be shipped on DVD, so to install the OS you’ll need a DVD drive.

Decide which version of Vista you need or can afford. Choose…
1. Home Basic if you don’t need Aero Glass or any other advanced features.
2. Home Premium (a cross between XP Home and XP Professional) if you want and can afford to take advantage of Vista’s advanced features.
3. Business edition if (you guessed it) you are running or plan to run a business. This version offers standard business functionality.
4. Enterprise if you want to take advantage of the many extra features including BitLocker Drive Encryption for laptops, application compatibility tools, and multi-language support.
5. Ultimate if you want and can afford everything that Vista has to offer. This version combines the best of the home and business editions OS into one.

Check the application compatibility toolkit found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...fault.mspx#EOB to make sure your current application will run under Vista.

Depending on the amount of data in your current PC, you may want to consider to backup of all your files. Also, make sure you have the CDs for existing software, including product keys.

And don’t forget to visit MS at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...y/default.mspx. Happy computing!

[Galt]

Originally Posted by felix8406

By the way, now the new an improve IE7 is out, would be a good time to share some tips and tricks. Maybe even have a dedicated thread just IE.

Here''s a start...take care!

BEWARE OF FAKE IE7 SITE
"Trojan download site spoofs IE7 release outlet" The Register
(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10..._ie7_download/)

"Hackers have created a bogus Internet Explorer 7 download site that attempts to load Trojan code onto the PCs of visiting surfers.

People are apparently being tricked into visiting the site and downloading the product via a spoofed email message, claiming to be from support@microsoft.com."

http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...19/186135.aspx

[felix8406]

Here are a few suggestions to get ready for Vista:

If purchasing a new PC before January 2007, get one that will be capable of running Vista Premium or is a Vista Premium Ready machine, with a minimum of 1GB of RAM. This way you don’t have to worry about upgrading your PC later on when you get Vista. Also, get a PC that has extra expansion slots for RAM just in case you decide to add one or two RAM modules later on.

Choose a PC that has at least two SATA interface connectors, and if purchasing a hard drive, make it a SATA. It will result in less clutter and increased airflow. Not to mention the ability to transfer a SATA disk to future PCs that may not come with EIDE interface.

Check with the PC manufacture to see if the offer a video card trade-up program. Even though Vista will run fine with DirectX 9 video card, it’s expected to be shipped with DirectX 10, which will offer better 3D video effects. Although there’s no DirectX 10 video cards in the market as of yet, a video card trade-up program can save you money when the new card is available. You can send in your DirectX 9 video card and receive a DirectX 10 video card at a discount. Happy computing!

[felix8406]

Although you can use Vista to partition your HD, to do so, Vista must first be installed. However, there’s an alternative. You can use PE 2.0 to partition your hard drive, without installing Vista. It comes with Vista, but it can also be run by itself. It’s part of BDD 2007 Beta 2, which you can download from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/des...7/default.mspx.

PE 2.0 allows for troubleshooting, installation and system recovery, network connectivity and the ability to run both 32- and 64-bit applications. Windows PE 2.0 is bundled in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), and is an integral part of both the WAIK and Vista itself.

This is what you need to do to make your own bootable CD:
1. Download and install BDD 2007 Beat 2
2. Once installed, go to Program Files, BDD 2007, WAIK folder, and click on “startcd”
3. Choose Run Windows AIK setup
4. Once completed, got to Start, Microsoft Windows AIK and click the Windows PE Command Prompt
5. In command prompt type COPYPE.CMD x86 C:\Temp\x86_PE.
6. Still in command prompt, type OSCDIMG –bc:\temp\x86_pe\etfsboot.com –n –o c:\temp\x86_pe\iso c:\temp\x86_pe.iso. This will create an ISO that can be used to create the bootable CD
7. Burn the ISO and once completed, insert the CD and restart your PC.

Note: Substitute "temp" with a different destination if you want. Also, make sure you type the command as it's shown, including spaces.

[crabby]

Vista doesn't need to be installed to partition hard drives... just click advanced options when it asks where you want it installed and you can setup the partitions how you like... then if you don't want vista when you are done just quit the install

Atleast, that's what I have been doing :S

crabby

[Galt]

Interesting article on Zdnet by Mary Jo Foley, and of course the posters with comments are always a riot.
It is worth a read however!!

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=57

[crabby]

Lol, another pointless article by a pointless person Let's stop with the presumptions and wait to see what Microsoft do about RTM Loved the comments at the bottom

I think vista is only really hampered by drivers and third party software now... so the sooner it gets out the better. Maybe then some more companies will start thinking about product updates. It's not like they can say the operating system isn't going to sell... so invest NOW!!!

crabby

[felix8406]

MS announced an upgrade-assist program for users who purchase a PC from October 26th 2006 to March 15th 2007. For system builders, four upgrades will be free, except for shipping and handling. They are:

• Windows XP Professional to Windows Vista Business
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Tablet PC Edition to Windows Vista Business
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition to Windows Vista Business 64
Upgrading from Windows XP Home Edition to Vista Home Basic will cost $49, plus shipping and handling, while moving from Windows XP Home Edition to Vista Home Premium will cost $79, plus shipping and handling.
Meanwhile:
People who buy certain HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario and HP Digital Entertainment Center computers equipped with Windows XP can upgrade to Vista for free. There may be shipping and handling fees, depending on the retailer.
Gateway will offer free upgrades for people who buy Vista-capable computers directly from the company. Shipping charges or duplication fees may be charged to people who buy Gateway computers through other retailers.
People who buy a Vista-capable Dell computer running Windows XP Home Edition will be able to buy Windows Vista Home Basic at the discounted price of $45, plus shipping and handling charges. Buyers of computers running Windows XP Media Center or Windows XP Professional will only have to pay shipping and handling to get a comparable Vista version.